College Superstars Take on Pros at Texas Invitational

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Photo Courtesy: Dan D'Addona

By Jason Tillotson.

The always fast University of Texas Invitational gets underway this weekend with pros and collegiate superstars alike in action. Check out which teams will be putting swimmers on the blocks this weekend in Austin and their respective mid-season rankings below.

Women’s teams:

Texas (2)
Wisconsin (19)
UCLA (25)
Arizona (22)
Harvard
Univ. of Southern California (T-7)
Texas Christian Univ.
Oklahoma Baptist
Rutgers
Northern Arizona
BYU
UNLV

Men’s teams:

Texas (9)
Wisconsin
Arizona
Harvard
Univ. of Southern California (10)
Texas Christian Univ.
BYU
Arizona State (11)
Stanford (4)
UNLV

Not only are there powerhouse NCAA teams like Texas, for the women, and Stanford, for the men, in attendance, but American national team members such as Matt Grevers, Jack Conger and Leah Smith make cameos.

Expect a showdown in the men’s 500 freestyle though as Olympic gold medalist Clark Smith will have to hold off the Stanford duo of Grant Shoults and Liam Egan. The women’s side likely won’t see much of a race in that event as Leah Smith comes in with a 4:28.90, eight seconds ahead of Longhorn Joanna Evans.

The men’s 50 freestyle is likely to play host to some sub-19 second performances with both Joseph Schooling and Grevers coming in at 18.76 and 18.88, respectively. Schooling and Conger will get to throwback to last year’s NCAA championship meet where they went head to head in the 100 butterfly. Coming into the meet, Schooling leads Conger by about a half second with a 44.06 to Conger’s 44.50.

A whole flock of sub-1:00 100 breaststrokers is likely to be seen on the ladies side with USC’s Riley Scott, national teamer Madisyn Cox and Texas’ Kennedy Lohman all seeded under the one-minute barrier. The next three swimmers, Longhorn Olivia Anderson, Trojan Maggie Aroesty and UNLV’s Sophie Carnevale are all sitting right at 1:00.4 or better.

Texas pros Will Licon and Andrew Wilson will face off in the 100 breaststroke and likely walk away with a 1-2 finish in the process. Licon comes into the meet seeded first at 50.68 while Wilson is entered with a 50.94. The next fastest seeded swimmer is Stanford’s Matt Anderson with a 52.69.

Stanford’s distance duo of Shoults and True Sweetser will try to dethrone Smith as king of the mile in Austin, Texas. The lady Longhorns have their own throne to uphold in the women’s event with Evans coming in seeded first with the only sub-16:00 time in 15:54.46.

For a full psych sheet of the meet, click here.

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Pro Women Fitness

6 years ago

YESSSS!!